Information bearing medium and information processing system

ABSTRACT

An information processing system includes an information bearing medium and an information reading unit. The information bearing medium has a two-dimensional array of unit data zones. Marks are provided on some of the unit data zones so as to form a digital code. Mark patterns of any two Y-directional adjacent unit data zone strings based on the arrangement of marks in an X-direction differ from each other. The information reading unit generates a data string on the basis of a unit signal formed from a plurality of signals output from a group of detection units that detect the marks in synchronization and recognizes the digital code of the information bearing medium on the basis of a group of the data strings sequentially obtained from the array of the unit data zones.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2013-137161 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jun. 28, 2013, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information bearing medium and aninformation processing system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Information bearing media that bear a plurality of identificationinformation items usable in a game in the form of a correspondingconcave-convex portion have been developed. When the information bearingmedium is mounted in a mount unit of a game machine, switches providedin the mount unit read a concave-convex pattern on the basis of whethereach of the switches is depressed by one of the concave-convex portions.In this manner, the game machine can acquire identification informationcorresponding to the concave-convex pattern (refer to, for example,Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-221004).

The concave-convex portion of the information bearing medium describedin Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-221004includes a data signal section and a synchronous signal section arrangedin parallel. Each of the data signal section and the synchronous signalsection is formed from a combination of concave portions and convexportions. If the information bearing medium is inserted into the gamemachine, each of the convex portions depresses one of the switches.

The synchronous signal section of the concave-convex portion of theinformation bearing medium described in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2010-221004 indicates only the timing atwhich the convex portion of the data signal section depresses theswitch. Accordingly, the synchronous signal section does not provide anyeffective information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

If the synchronous signal section can be removed and a second datasignal section can be provided instead, the amount of informationprovided by the concave-convex portion can be increased. However, if aplurality of the convex portions are sequentially arranged, the borderbetween the preceding convex portion and the following convex portion isindicated only by a switch being off. Accordingly, if the moving speedof the concave-convex portion relative to the switch is high, thepreceding convex portion and the following convex portion may bemis-recognized as a single convex portion.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention is an informationbearing medium and an information processing system capable ofrelatively reducing the occurrence of mis-recognition of the codedinformation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an informationbearing medium includes a media substrate and a plurality of unit datazones formed on the media substrate in an array having a first directionand a second direction that crosses the first direction. A mark isprovided on each of some of the unit data zones in the array of the unitdata zones so as to form a digital code. The array is formed from unitdata zone strings each extending in the first direction, and markpatterns of any second-directional adjacent two of the unit data zonestrings based on an arrangement of marks in the first direction differfrom each other.

The unit data zone string can include at least one mark.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an informationbearing medium includes a media substrate and a plurality of unit datazones formed on the media substrate in an array having a first directionand a second direction that crosses the first direction. A mark isprovided on each of some of the unit data zones in the array of the unitdata zones so as to form a digital code. The array is formed from unitdata zone strings each extending in the first direction, and a markpattern of a beginning unit data zone string in the second directionbased on the arrangement of marks in the first direction differs fromeach of the mark patterns of a terminal unit data zone string based onthe arrangement of marks in the first direction and a direction oppositeto the first direction.

The mark pattern of the unit data zone string other than the beginningunit data zone string and the terminal unit data zone string based onthe arrangement of marks in the first direction can differ from the markpattern of the terminal unit data zone string based on the arrangementof marks in the first direction.

The information bearing medium can further include a guided portionprovided on the media substrate, the guided portion extending in thesecond direction.

The guided portion can be in the form of a groove, and the unit datazones can be formed in the groove.

The mark can be a convex portion formed on a surface of the mediasubstrate.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, aninformation processing system includes the above-described informationbearing medium and an information reading unit configured to read adigital code formed in an array of the unit data zones of theinformation bearing medium. The information reading unit includes amount unit that allows the information bearing medium to move relativethereto in the second direction and be mounted therein, a plurality ofdetection units that are provided in the mount unit so as to be arrangedin a direction parallel to the first direction if the informationbearing medium and that detect the marks provided on the unit data zonesof the information bearing medium and output signals corresponding to aresult of detection, and a processing unit that generates a data stringon the basis of a unit signal formed from the plurality of signalsoutput from the detection units in synchronization and recognizes thedigital code on the basis of a group of the data strings sequentiallyobtained from the array of the unit data zones of the informationbearing medium.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, aninformation processing system includes the above-described informationbearing medium and an information reading unit configured to read adigital code formed in an array of the unit data zones of theinformation bearing medium. The information reading unit includes amount unit that allows the information bearing medium to move relativethereto in the second direction and be mounted therein, a plurality ofdetection units that are provided in the mount unit so as to be arrangedin a direction parallel to the first direction if the informationbearing medium and that detect the marks provided on the unit data zonesof the information bearing medium and output signals corresponding to aresult of detection, and a processing unit that generates a data stringon the basis of a unit signal formed from the plurality of signalsoutput from the detection units in synchronization and recognizes thedigital code on the basis of a group of the data strings sequentiallyobtained from the array of the unit data zones of the informationbearing medium. The mark pattern of the terminal unit data zone stringof the information bearing medium based on the arrangement of marks inthe first direction is a particular mark pattern. Upon detecting aparticular data string obtained from the particular mark pattern, theprocessing unit performs a process to recognize the digital code. Upondetecting a reverse particular data string obtained from a reverseparticular mark pattern generated by reversing the particular markpattern in a direction opposite to the first direction, the processingunit performs an error process.

The information bearing medium can further include a guided portion thatis provided on the media substrate and that extends in the seconddirection. The mount unit of the information reading unit can have aguiding portion that is to be engaged with the guided portion of theinformation bearing medium so as to guide movement of the informationbearing medium relative to the mount unit in the second direction.

The guided portion of the information bearing medium can be in the formof a groove, and the guiding portion of the information reading unit canbe in the form of a convex rib extending in a direction parallel to thesecond direction of the information bearing medium.

The mark of the information bearing medium can be a convex portionformed on a surface of the media substrate, and each of the detectionunits can be a switch depressed by the convex portion.

The information reading unit can further include an operating unit and astorage unit that stores operation data used for operating the operatingunit in association with the digital code, and the processing unit ofthe information reading unit can read the operation data correspondingto the recognized digital code out of the storage unit and cause theoperating unit to operate on the basis of the readout operation data.

The operating unit may be capable of outputting presentation includingat least one of sound and light emission.

According to several embodiments of the present invention, theoccurrence of mis-recognition of the stored information can berelatively reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of an example of an informationprocessing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of an information bearing mediumillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example of a mark pattern formed in anarray of unit data zones of the information bearing medium illustratedin FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of an information reading unitillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the information reading unitillustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the flow of a process performed by the informationreading unit illustrated in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of an example of an informationprocessing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

An information processing system 1 includes the information bearingmedium 2 having digital code assigned thereto and an information readingunit 3 that reads the digital code assigned to the information bearingmedium 2.

The information reading unit 3 includes a mount unit 4 that allows theinformation bearing medium 2 to be mounted therein. The mount unit 4 hasan insertion port 4 a that is open in a side surface of the informationreading unit 3. The information bearing medium 2 is inserted into themount unit 4 through the insertion port 4 a and is mounted in the mountunit 4. Thereafter, the information reading unit 3 reads the digitalcode of the information bearing medium 2 mounted in the mount unit 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of the information bearing medium2.

The information bearing medium 2 includes a media substrate 10 and anarray of unit data zones 11. The array of the unit data zones 11represents the digital code. Note that although the media substrate 10is a rigid plate-like member having a substantially circular shape inthe example of FIG. 2, the shape and the material of the media substrate10 are not limited thereto.

A back surface 10 a of the media substrate 10 has a groove 12 formedtherein. The groove 12 extends along any one of the diameters of themedia substrate 10, and both ends of the groove 12 reach the side edgeof the media substrate 10. The groove 12 regulates a direction in whichthe information bearing medium 2 is inserted into the mount unit 4 whenthe information bearing medium 2 is mounted in the information readingunit 3.

The array of the unit data zones 11 is provided on the bottom surface ofthe groove 12. The array of the unit data zones 11 is a two-dimensionalarray having a first direction and a second direction that issubstantially perpendicular to the first direction. The second directionof the array of the unit data zones 11 is the same as the direction inwhich the groove 12 extends. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, thearray of the unit data zones 11 is a 4-by-4 array. However, the numberof the unit data zones 11 in each of the first direction and the seconddirection is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, the first direction of the array of the unit data zones 11is referred to as an “X-direction”, and the second direction is referredto as a “Y-direction”.

Each of some of the unit data zones 11 has a mark 13 formed thereon. Themarks 13 are used to form the digital code. In the example illustratedin FIG. 2, the mark 13 is configured in the form of a convex portionhaving a predetermined height. Binary data (“1” or “0”) is assigned toeach of the unit data zones 11 in accordance with the presence/absenceof the mark 13. In this manner, the array of the unit data zones 11represents digital code.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example of a mark pattern formed by thearray of the unit data zones 11. More specifically, FIG. 3A illustratesa mark pattern using the physical layout of the marks 13, and FIG. 3Billustrates the mark pattern using the digital code obtained byconverting the presence/absence of the marks 13 into binary data “1” and“0”.

Each of unit data zone strings 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, and 14 d formed fromfour unit data zones 11 arranged in the X-direction includes at leastone mark 13.

In addition, the mark patterns of any Y-direction adjacent two of theunit data zone strings 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, and 14 d based on thearrangement of marks in the X-direction differ from each other. Forexample, the mark pattern of the unit data zone string 14 a based on thearrangement of marks in X-direction is “mark, no-mark, mark, mark”, andthe corresponding data string is “1, 0, 1, 1”, while the mark pattern ofthe unit data zone string 14 b based on the arrangement of marks inX-direction is “no-mark, mark, mark, no-mark”, and the correspondingdata string is “0, 1, 1, 0”. Thus, the two mark patterns differ fromeach other.

Furthermore, the mark pattern of the unit data zone string 14 d locatedat one end of the unit data zone strings 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, and 14 d inthe Y-direction based on the arrangement of marks in the X-direction isa particular mark pattern that is common to a plurality of types ofdigital code. The particular mark pattern and a corresponding datastring indicate the terminal end of the digital codes formed in thearray of the unit data zones 11. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 2Aand 2B, the mark pattern of the unit data zone string 14 d based on thearrangement of marks in the X-direction is “mark, no-mark, mark,no-mark”, and a corresponding data string is “1, 0, 1, 0”.

Hereinafter, the unit data zone string 14 d located at one end isreferred to as a “terminal unit data zone string”, and the unit datazone string 14 a located at the other end is referred to as a “beginningunit data zone string”.

In addition, the mark pattern of the beginning unit data zone string 14a based on the arrangement of marks in the X-direction differs from eachof the mark patterns of the terminal unit data zone string 14 d based onthe arrangements of marks in X-direction and the -X-direction.

Furthermore, the mark pattern of each of the unit data zone strings 14 band 14 c based on the arrangement of marks in the X-direction differsfrom each of the mark patterns of the terminal unit data zone string 14d based on the arrangements of marks in the X-direction and the-X-direction.

The information bearing medium 2 is inserted into the insertion port 4 aof the information reading unit 3 with the beginning unit data zonestring 14 a first and is mounted in the mount unit 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary configuration of the information readingunit 3.

The mount unit 4 of the information reading unit 3 has two convex ribs20 formed thereon. The two convex ribs 20 are formed so as to extend ina direction parallel to the Y-direction of the array of the unit datazones 11 when the information bearing medium 2 is mounted in the mountunit 4. The convex ribs 20 are engaged with the two side surfaces of thegroove 12 formed in the media substrate 10. Thus, a direction in whichthe information bearing medium 2 is inserted into the mount unit 4 isregulated to be the Y-direction.

In addition, the mount unit 4 includes the detection units 21 thatdetect the marks 13 formed in the array of the unit data zones 11 of theinformation bearing medium 2 and output a signal in accordance with theresult of detection of the marks 13. The number of the detection units21 is the same as the number of the unit data zones 11 that constituteone unit data zone string. The detection units 21 are arranged betweenthe two convex ribs 20 in a direction that is parallel to theX-direction of the array of the unit data zones 11 when the informationbearing medium 2 is mounted in the mount unit 4.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the detection units 21 areconfigured to serve as switches that can be depressed by the marks 13.When the information bearing medium 2 is inserted into the mount unit 4or is removed from the mount unit 4 and, thus, the marks 13 pass overthe detection units 21, the detection units 21 are depressed by themarks 13. After the mark 13 pass by, the detection units 21automatically rise. When being depressed, each of the detection units 21outputs a signal of a High level. When the detection unit 21 stays at araised position, the detection units 21 outputs a signal of a Low level.

When the information bearing medium 2 is inserted into the mount unit 4or is removed from the mount unit 4, the unit data zone strings 14 a, 14b, 14 c, and 14 d sequentially pass over the detection units 21 arrangedin a line. Each time one of the unit data zone string passes over thedetection units 21 arranged in a line, the signals are output from theset of the detection units 21 in synchronization.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an information reading unit 3.

The information reading unit 3 includes a processing unit that acquiresa signal output from a group of the detection units 21, recognizes thedigital code of the information bearing medium 2, and performs a varietyof processes and a power supply unit 22 that supplies electricity to allthe units of the information reading unit 3. In addition, the processingunit includes an operating unit 23, a memory unit 24, and a control unit25.

The operating unit 23 is configured so as to be capable of outputtingaudio and visual presentation including at least one of sound andemission of light. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the operatingunit 23 includes a speaker 26 so as to be capable of outputtingrepresentation based on sound.

Examples of the memory unit 24 include a storage medium, such as a readonly memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). Thus, the memoryunit 24 stores, for example, a program executed by the control unit 25and a table having a variety of digital codes assigned to theinformation bearing medium 2 in association with a variety of sound dataitems to be output to the operating unit 23.

The control unit 25 includes a processing unit (e.g., a microprocessor).Thus, the control unit 25 operates in accordance with the program storedin the memory unit 24 and performs overall control of the informationreading unit 3.

The control unit 25 considers a group of signals output from a group ofthe detection units 21 in synchronization as one unit. Thereafter, thecontrol unit 25 assigns digital data to each of the signals thatconstitute the unit signal group. By arranging the assigned digital datain accordance with the arrangement of the detection units 21 in theX-direction, the control unit 25 generates a data string.

In this example, each of the detection units 21 outputs a High-levelsignal when it is depressed by one of the marks 13. When the detectionunit 21 stays in the raised position, the detection unit 21 outputs aLow-level signal. The control unit 25 detects the signal level of asignal output from the detection unit 21. If the signal level is High,the control unit 25 assigns data “1” to the signal level. However, thesignal level is Low, the control unit 25 assigns data “0” to the signallevel. Accordingly, if the mark pattern of the beginning unit data zonestring 14 a based on the arrangement of marks in the X-direction is“mark, no-mark, mark, mark”, a data string “1, 0, 1, 1” is generated(refer to FIG. 3).

At that time, as described above, each of the unit data zone strings 14a, 14 b, 14 c, and 14 d includes at least one mark 13. The mark patternsof any two adjacent unit data zone strings based on the arrangement ofmarks in the X-direction differ from each other. Accordingly, when themark patterns of two adjacent unit data zone strings based on thearrangement of marks in the X-direction are detected by two group of thedetection units 21, at least one of the signals output from thedetection units 21 varies between the two adjacent unit data zonestrings.

The control unit 25 detects switching of a signal output from at leastone of the detection units 21. If a signal is switched, the control unit25 acquires the signals output from the group of the detection units 21in synchronization and generates a data string. In this manner, thecontrol unit 25 can accurately recognize a border between adjacent twoof the unit data zone strings 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, and 14 d withoutreceiving any timing indication so as to acquire signals output from agroup of the detection units 21 and, thus, generate a data string foreach of the unit data zone strings.

The memory unit 24 reserves memory space for three data strings. Thecontrol unit 25 stores, in the memory space reserved in the memory unit24, the data string sequentially acquired for each of the unit data zonestrings when the information bearing medium 2 is inserted into the mountunit 4. For example, the information bearing medium 2 is inserted intothe mount unit 4 with the beginning unit data zone string 14 a first,three data strings sequentially acquired from the unit data zone strings14 a, 14 b, and 14 c are stored in the memory space reserved in thememory unit 24.

Subsequently, if the control unit 25 detects a data string “1, 0, 1, 0”corresponding to the particular mark pattern “mark, no-mark, mark,no-mark” of the terminal unit data zone string 14 d based on thearrangement of marks in the X-direction, the control unit 25 recognizesthe digital code on the basis of the data strings stored in the memoryunit 24 and performs a process corresponding to the recognized digitalcode.

Hereinafter, the pattern of the data string “1, 0, 1, 0”, whichcorresponds to the above-described particular mark pattern “mark,no-mark, mark, no-mark”, is referred to as an “end data string pattern”,and a mark pattern “no-mark, mark, no-mark, mark” obtained by reversingthe particular mark pattern is referred to as an “reverse particularmark pattern”. In addition, a pattern of the data string “0, 1, 0, 1”corresponding to the reverse particular mark pattern is referred to asan “reverse end data string pattern”.

FIG. 6 illustrates the flow of a process performed by the control unit25.

If the information reading unit 3 is powered ON, the control unit 25reserves memory space for three data strings in the memory unit 24 andclears data in the memory space (step S1).

If the information bearing medium 2 is inserted into the mount unit 4 oris removed from the mount unit 4, signals are output from a group of thedetection units 21 that detect the mark pattern of each of the unit datazone strings. The control unit 25 acquires the signals output from thegroup of the detection units 21 and generates a data string (step S2).

Subsequently, the control unit 25 determines whether the data stringmatches the above-described reverse end data string pattern (step S3).

For example, if the information bearing medium 2 is inserted into themount unit 4 with the beginning unit data zone string 14 a first, themark pattern of the beginning unit data zone string 14 a based on thearrangement of marks in the X-direction is detected by the group of thedetection units 21 first. The mark pattern differs from theabove-described reverse particular mark pattern and, thus, the datastring differs from the above-described reverse end data string pattern.

In contrast, if the information bearing medium 2 is inserted into themount unit 4 with the terminal unit data zone string 14 d first, themark pattern of the terminal unit data zone string 14 d based on thearrangement of marks in the X-direction is detected by the group of thedetection units 21 first. The mark pattern matches the reverseparticular mark pattern and, thus, the data string matches the reverseend data string pattern.

Accordingly, if the data string matches the reverse end data stringpattern, the control unit 25 determines that the information bearingmedium 2 is mounted in the mount unit 4 the other way around. Thus, thecontrol unit 25 performs error processing (step S4) and clears the datain the memory space reserved in the memory unit 24 (step S5). Examplesof the error processing include a process to activate the operating unit23 on the basis of audio data, such as an error message, stored in thememory unit 24.

However, if the data string does not match the reverse end data stringpattern, the control unit 25 determines whether the data string matchesthe above-described end data string pattern (step S6).

In addition, if the data string does not match the end data stringpattern, the control unit 25 stores the data string in the memory spacereserved in the memory unit 24 (step S7).

For example, if the information bearing medium 2 is inserted into themount unit 4 with the beginning unit data zone string 14 a first, themark patterns of the unit data zone strings 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c basedon the arrangement of marks in the X-direction are sequentially detectedby the group of the detection units 21. At that time, each of the markpatterns of the unit data zone strings 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c based on thearrangement of marks in the X-direction differs from the particular markpattern and, thus, each of the data strings obtained from the unit datazone strings 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c differs from the end data stringpattern. Accordingly, data strings sequentially obtained from the unitdata zone strings 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c are stored in the memory spacereserved in the memory unit 24.

However, if the data string matches the end data string pattern, thecontrol unit 25 determines whether the memory space reserved in thememory unit 24 is empty (step S8). If the memory space is not empty,that is, if a data string is stored in the memory space, the controlunit 25 recognizes the digital code on the basis of the data stringstored in the memory space (step S9). Thereafter, the control unit 25determines whether the digital code is valid on the basis of whether thedigital code is contained in a table stored in the memory unit 24 (stepS10).

For example, when the information bearing medium 2 is inserted into themount unit 4 with the beginning unit data zone string 14 a first and,thus, the data strings sequentially obtained from the unit data zonestrings 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c are stored in the memory space reserved inthe memory unit 24 and if mounting of the information bearing medium 2in the mount unit 4 is completed, the end data string pattern isdetected in the data string obtained from the terminal unit data zonestring 14 d. At that time, the data strings obtained from the unit datazone strings 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c are stored in the memory spacereserved in the memory unit 24. Thus, the digital code is recognized onthe basis of these data strings. The digital code is contained in thetable in the memory unit 24 as one of the digital codes assigned to theinformation bearing medium 2. Thus, the digital code is determined to bevalid.

If the digital code is valid, the control unit 25 performs an audio andvisual presentation process when the information bearing medium 2 ismounted in the mount unit 4. In the audio and visual presentationprocess, the control unit 25 reads, from the memory unit 24, audio datastored in association with the digital code and activates the operatingunit 23 to operate on the basis of the read audio data (step S11). Inaddition, the control unit 25 clears the data in the memory spacereserved in the memory unit 24 (step S12).

However, if the recognized digital code is not valid, the control unit25 performs error processing (step S13) and clears the data in thememory space reserved in the memory unit 24 (step S14).

For example, the digital code is not valid if the information bearingmedium 2 is moved back and forth during insertion of the informationbearing medium 2 into the mount unit 4. At that time, the beginning unitdata zone string 14 a or the unit data zone string 14 b are detected bythe group of the detection units 21 a plurality of times and, thus, thedata strings obtained from the beginning unit data zone string 14 a andthe unit data zone string 14 b are duplicately stored in the memoryspace reserved in the memory unit 24.

If, after the information bearing medium 2 is mounted in the mount unit4 and the presentation process at the time of mounting (step S11) or theerror process (step S13) is performed, the information bearing medium 2is removed from the mount unit 4, the mark pattern of the terminal unitdata zone string 14 d based on the arrangement of parks in theX-direction is detected by the group of the detection units 21 first.The end data string pattern is detected in the data string obtained fromthe terminal unit data zone string 14 d. At that time, data in thememory space reserved in the memory unit 24 is cleared and, therefore,the memory space is empty (step S12 or S14).

As described above, when the data string matches the end data stringpattern and if the memory space is empty, the control unit 25 performs apresentation process for removal of the information bearing medium 2from the mount unit 4 (step S15) and clears data in the memory spacereserved in the memory unit 24 (step S16). Examples of the presentationprocess for removal of the information bearing medium 2 includes aprocess to activate the operating unit 23 to operate on the basis ofaudio data, such as sound effects, stored in the memory unit 24.

Note that the above-described presentation process for removal of theinformation bearing medium 2 is also performed if the informationbearing medium 2 is removed from the mount unit 4 after the informationreading unit 3 is powered ON with the information bearing medium 2mounted in the mount unit 4.

While the above embodiment has been described with reference to theinformation processing system 1 that has the marks 13 each formed from aconvex portion having a predetermined height and that has binary dataassigned to the unit data zones 11 of the information bearing medium 2in accordance with the presence/absence of the marks 13, the dataassigned to the unit data zone 11 is not limited to binary data. Forexample, by using marks having different heights, data with three ormore values can be assigned to the unit data zone 11 in accordance withthe presence/absence of the mark and the height of the mark. Inaddition, any mark 13 having a plurality of discrete values for aparticular physical quantity can be employed. For example, by paintingthe unit data zones 11 with colors having different reflectance ratios,the marks 13 may be formed.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. An information bearing medium comprising: a mediasubstrate; and a plurality of unit data zones formed on the mediasubstrate in an array having a first direction and a second directionthat crosses the first direction, wherein a mark is provided on each ofsome of the unit data zones in the array of the unit data zones so as toform a digital code, wherein the mark is a convex portion with apredetermined height formed on the surface of the media substrate, andthe presence or absence of the convex portion provides for binary datafor the unit data zones; and wherein the array is formed from unit datazone strings each extending in the first direction, and mark patterns ofany second-directional adjacent two of the unit data zone strings basedon an arrangement of marks in the first direction differ from eachother.
 16. The information bearing medium according to claim 15, whereineach of the unit data zone strings includes at least one mark.
 17. Theinformation bearing medium according to claim 15, further comprising: aguided portion provided on the media substrate, the guided portionextending in the second direction.
 18. The information bearing mediumaccording to claim 17, wherein the guided portion is in the form of agroove, and wherein the unit data zones are formed in the groove.
 19. Aninformation processing system comprising: the information bearing mediumaccording to claim 15; and an information reading unit configured toread a digital code formed in an array of the unit data zones of theinformation bearing medium, wherein the information reading unitincludes a mount unit that allows the information bearing medium to moverelative thereto in the second direction and be mounted therein, aplurality of detection units that are provided in the mount unit so asto be arranged in a direction parallel to the first direction of theinformation bearing medium and that detect the marks provided on theunit data zones of the information bearing medium and output signalscorresponding to a result of detection, a processing unit that generatesa data string on the basis of a unit signal formed from the plurality ofsignals output from the detection units in synchronization andrecognizes the digital code on the basis of a group of the data stringssequentially obtained from the array of the unit data zones of theinformation bearing medium, and wherein each of the detection units ofthe information reading unit comprises a switch configured to bedepressed by the convex portion.
 20. The information processing systemaccording to claim 19, wherein the information bearing medium furtherincludes a guided portion that is provided on the media substrate andthat extends in the second direction, and wherein the mount unit of theinformation reading unit has a guiding portion that is to be engagedwith the guided portion of the information bearing medium so as to guidemovement of the information bearing medium relative to the mount unit inthe second direction.
 21. The information processing system according toclaim 20, wherein the guided portion of the information bearing mediumcomprise a groove, and wherein the guiding portion of the informationreading unit is in the form of a convex ridge extending in a directionparallel to the second direction of the information bearing medium. 22.The information processing system according to claim 19, wherein theinformation reading unit further includes an operating unit and astorage unit that stores operation data used for operating the operatingunit in association with the digital code, and wherein the processingunit of the information reading unit reads the operation datacorresponding to the recognized digital code out of the storage unit andcauses the operating unit to operate on the basis of the readoutoperation data.
 23. The information processing system according to claim22, wherein the operating unit is capable of outputting presentationincluding at least one of sound and light emission.